“That sounds…” Janelle takes a breath and forces a smile. “It sounds interesting.”
I lean over the table, tempering my excitement for the show. Eagerness to do this has simmered in me since I first pitched the idea to Victoria and could tell she was excited too.
“I always liked our show,” I say. “You know that. I had things to learn, obviously, but this is going to be so different. I’ve been really careful with the contracts, the development, who will be involved. All of it.” Unlike last time, I’m not letting the show dictate how the world views me.
Ellie beams at me, even if there’s still a thread of worry in her eyes. “We know you’re brilliant, Libs.”
I let my shoulders relax in relief. If she’s got my back, I cantell my parents. They’ll understand too. They always do. But how much is this going to worry them?
“Do you?” I ask in a small voice. I can’t help it. They always say I can do anything, but they’re also always hovering in the background, ready to catch me when I inevitably fall.
Ellie puts an arm around me to give me a side hug “I know we’re all protective, Libby. And we probably go overboard. My excuse is that I’m your big sister.”
Janelle once again reaches over to take my hand in hers. “We know you’re capable. And we trust you, of course.”
Ellie nods along with her words. “I know what it’s like to want to prove yourself.”
“Okay.” I bite my lips together again. “And you’ll both back me up when I tell Mom and Dad?”
Ellie laughs. “Libs. You’re twenty-seven. You’ve been running a successful business for years. You don’t need us to back you up.”
“Mom and Dad are going to understand too,” Janelle assures me. “They once said yes to a reality TV show, remember?” She grins at me, and it’s less forced than before. Janelle’s moods have always been swayed by Ellie’s vibes. If Ellie’s confident in me, so is Janelle.
“Yeah, but considering how things ended … I know they’ve always blamed themselves a little bit.” I bite my lip.
“As a parent, you always blame yourself for every decision your kids make,” Janelle says with a sigh. “Grayson Hollis is the only one to blame. We all know that.”
“Amen,” Ellie says lowly.
“What about your firm?” Janelle asks. “Are you closing it down?”
I shake my head quickly. “No, Candace is taking over and rebranding.” I’ve already discussed this with my employees at, for lack of a better term, my private investigations firm. Candace, our head legal counsel, is a better fit to run it anyway. “I’ll still be involved, but not in a public way anymore.” I’mproud of the firm I created to help victims when law enforcement can’t help, but I’ll never be able to separate myself from my past if I don’t step away, even if I’m proud of myself for how far I’ve come. I don’t want to forget what I’ve overcome or pretend like it didn’t happen. I just want my story to be about more.
Ellie gives me a wide grin. “You are amazing, Libby Bennet. This is going to be awesome for you, and we’re behind you all the way.”
“Mmmm-hmmm,” Janelle says. “Exactly.”
Ellie turns a mischievous eye on our sister. “Now we gotta find a team for you, Janelle. Maybe baseball?”
To which Janelle scoffs.
CHAPTER 2
JORDAN
My sister Baylee says we’re lucky I’m born for this. That I’m charming and handsome and know how to flirt just enough with rich middle-aged women and how to praise rich middle-aged men for their glory days.
She’s not wrong.
The problem is, it feels like it’s never going to be enough.
The hotel dining room is full of Houston’s stars, even a couple guys from the Pumas and their wives. The cost of the dinner alone will net our foundation around five hundred thousand dollars, but we need so much more.
Bryce scammed people for years. We can’t make it up in a few weeks,Baylee keeps telling me. And I know I’m not the most famous hockey player out there, especially in a room with Pumas players, the darling sports stars of Houston. But isn’t hockey the It Girl of sports right now? Aren’t all the ladies supposed to be swooning over us?
Well, Mrs. Carter is kind of swooning right now. Might be good for an extra thousand if I keep low-key flirting.
“Did you say you’re retired?” Mrs. Carter asks, tilting her head at me, expression confused. “You’re so young.”
